Torque transmitting device



E. P. PEREGRINE TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Nov. 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 8, 1948 E. P. PEREGRIN TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Nov. 17, 1953 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1948 NOV 17, 1953 E. P. PEREGRINE 2,659,221

'PORQUE TRANSMITTING'DEVICE Filed July 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 17, 1953 YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TORQUE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Application July s, 194s, serial No. 37,667'

This invention relates to torque transmitting devices. More particularly, the invention is con- `cerned with torque transmitters of the type in tending axially from both faces-and cooperating `with similar vanes carried by the driving member,v the various vanes being supported by one radially extending edge and permitting a very compact construction. The fluid connections to the spaces between vanes are made by means of conduits in the driving member, which, together with parts rigid with it, forms an enclosure for the driven member and a part driven by it. Pressure measuring passages segregated from the uid supply passages are provided and avoid errors resulting from pressure drop of the iluid in passing through the supply passages. `The supply connections are manifoldedand the driven member is grooved for interconnecting spaces on its opposite sides, so as to equalize pressure in similar spaces between the vanes.

A torque transmitting device embodying the invention in a preferred form of embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a torque loader lay-out embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the torque loader of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are end and side elevational views respectively of one of the outer vane rings of the torque loader of Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are end and side elevational views respectively of the other outer vane ring of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the inner vane ring of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line 1 1 of Figure 7.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one form as illustrated by way of example in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, to a driving shaft a is connected torque loading mechanism b details of which are shown in Figures 2 to 8. This mechanism comprises a driven member I and coaxial driving member 2, the driven member I being connected by bolts I0 to a driven pinion 8 and the driven member I being cons claims. (ci. s4-26) 2 nected by means of bolts II andl I2 to members 4, 5 and 1. Rigidl'y connected to the driving lmember 2 is a ring 6 (Figures '7 and 8) which has vanes I3 in bothaxial directions; these vanes arearranged to project into corresponding recesses `I4 between vanes I5 on the members 4 and 5 (Figures 2 to 6) in such a manner that rotational displacements of the member 6 relative to the members 4 and 5 are possible through a limited arc. The extent of this arc may be controlled by the number and thickness of the vanes in members 4, 5 and 6. Communicating grooves 2l are cut on the periphery of the member 6 so that opposite volumes are in communication. These volumes can be Varied by the rotational movement of the member Ii'relative to the members 4 and 5 combined.

The device operates by introducing oil or any appropriate fluid at pressure on to the clockwise faces of the vanes I3 of member `6 in Figure 8 and by maintaining a controlled lower pressure on the counter-clockwise sides of the same face.

By this means forces are produced which enable the member I5` to sweep out these volumes and vso to cause a relative torsional displacement Abetween the member 6 and members- 4 and 5.

Member I is connected to a hardened journal I8 which is brought out to overhang and project from the driving pinion 8, with which the device is associated. A journal bush I9 in a housing 20 has four oil connections to four annular grooves A, B, C and D and two end grooves E, F. The annuli A, B, C and D are in fluid connection with the volumes between the vanes of rings 4, 5 and 6 by way of annular grooves G, H, I and J in a coned member I6 secured rigidly within the member I. Each of the grooves G, I-I, I and J is connected to a set of four radial holes I1 communicating with the appropriate swept volume thereby introducing a pressure equalizing effect. Annuli A and C connect by pipes c to volumes on the counter-clockwise side of the vanes I3 Whereas annuli B and D connect to the clockwise side.

'I'he delivery outlet of a variable pressure pump d is connected by way of pipes e and f to groove B, a pressure gauge g being connected to the pipe e. A further pressure gauge h connected by a pipe i to the annulus C measures pressure on the return flow.

The grooves E and F are connected by way of The flow passages B and C are segregated from the pressure measuring passages A and D in order to avoid the introduction of errors due to fluid friction in the ow passages.

The housing 20 and bush I9 are prevented from rotation by a stop pin T and are arranged to float on the shaft :extension 12B, the :connections to the pump and gauges being 'made 'by way-of .flexible hose connections.

An extension 9 on the member l locates member 2 by means of a bushed bearing .3 and the vanes on members 4, 5 and 6 are 'arranged with clearances between them and. members ;I and 2 and 1, whereby slight leakage -under laminar flow conditions obtains whereby ia minimum of friction is introduced.

In the arrangement shown :in .Figure .1, .the pipe i connected to the pressure gauge 7i 4is continued upwards to a tank s from which liuuid is fed to the pump d by way of a strainer t and neat lexchanger u and to which a tank-return- Iiiow'pipe-y isconnected. .Apump pressure gauge fv Tand a ily-pass connection w with cock :n are also provided.

The :resistance to :the .drive must be lencountered before the .full arc is traversed and a force proportional to the difference .in pressures .be- -tween the clockwise and counterclcckwise faces Aof .the vanes manifests itself as the torque being -.transmitted through the-device. The magnitude 'of this `torque is controlled by controlling the :fluid pressures. This control iseifected by means of the pump d.

When the coupling Ais .in rotation the v.pressures indicated by the pressure lgauges o and-q ywillnot correspond Ato the pressures Von the vanes .due to the introduction of .centrifugal ,-fluid pressure loading but the high pressure .and .the low pres Isure :sides of the vanes will be subject to equal 'increments of pressure `and as .far as the applied A.torque is .concerned no change in the 4true value results.

A further desirable vfeature .is the balancing of pressures of the vanes, i. e., by .so forming 'both' rdriven and `driving members -that thenet reaction ofthe oil pressures the axial 4direction is zero;

this is achieved in the above example by providing vanes on both sides of member 6 and by providing a vent groove in the bush 3. This latter precaution eliminates the possibility of any unbalanced thrusts forming inside the coupling between members i and 2 due to hydraulic pressure.

It is desirable :to form the bush I9 of nonseizing material to permit of running with very .small clearances and so minimize the leakage. ln any case itis possible to inhibit leakages by the introduction of the leak-oli grooves E, F.

What is .'claimed is:

.1. `lli duid torque transmitting device comprising :a driving `member embodying two sets of varies, each vane lbeing supported rigidly on said member by one .radially extending edge, each 'vane extending axially and being unsupported at all :other edges, a tio-axially driven member furnished with a pair of sets of similar vanes, said .latter vanes lying .between said first-mentioned vanes and Jmeans for .maintain-ing .fluid `under two vsliiierent pressures Vin the spaces between 'the vanes -at the .respective two sides .of the vanes on the driving member.

`2. A fluid torque transmitting device .as claimed in claim 1 incorporating liquid flow passages :and pressure measuring passages wherein said former passages are segregated from said .latter passages in order to .avoid the .introductionof errors due to fluid friction in the former passages.

.3. A `fluid torque transmitting device as claimed .in claim 1, incorporating manifolds for `equalizing the pressures in volumes swept .by said vanes.

EDGAR PHILLIPS PEREGRINE.

References oiiea in the nie of this patent j UNITED STATES PATENTS Number VName Date 1,224,669 Rounds May l, 1917 1,685,839 Du 4Bois Oct. 2, 1928 2,072,561 Kuhns et a1. Mar. 2, 1937 f4 2,305,439 Miner Dec. 15, 1942 

